Trunk and display-case.



Patented May .6, I902. G. HEUMADER.

TRUNK AND DISPLAY CASE.

(Application filed Mar. 10, 1902.)

2 Sheets-Shee't I.

(No Model.

amoavvbdfo No. 699,523. Patented May 6, I902.

C.-HEUMADER. TRUNK AND DISPLAY CASE.

(Application filed Mar. 10, 1902.)

(N0 Model.).

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

THE Noam vzrzns cc, Pmnuumo. WASHINGTON a. 12V

U TTED STATES PATENT @FFICE.

CHRISTIAN HEUMADER, OF ST. JOSEPH, MISSOURI.

TRUNK AND DISPLAY-CASE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 699,523, dated May 6, 1902.

Application filed March 10, 1902. Serial No. 97,640. (No model.)

To (0Z5 whom. it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHRISTIAN I'IEUMADER, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Joseph, in the countyof Buchanan and State of Missouri, have invented new and useful Improvements in Trunks and Display-Cases, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to trunks such as used by drummers and cases for shirts and other articles designed more especially to be car rie d in such trunks; and its novelty, utility, and advantages will be fully understood from the following description and claims when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective View illustrating my improved trunk as open and the improved cases therein, one of thecasesbeing shown as partially withdrawn; Fig. 2, an enlarged perspective view illustrating one ofthe cases as open-2'. 6., with its trays or sections fixed at right angles to each other; Fig. 3, a transverse section taken in the plane indicated by the line 3 3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4, an end elevation of the case as it appears when its trays or sections are secured in alinement with each other; Fig. 5, a detail longitudinal section taken in the plane indicated by the line 5 5 of Fig. 2; Fig. 6, a similar viewillustrating a modified oonstruction,and Fig. 7 a detail view illustrating modified adjustable partitions or shirt-separating devices.

Similar letters of reference designate corresponding parts in Figs. 1 to 5 of the drawings, referring more particularly to which A is the body, and B the cover. of my improved trunk, and C C are myimproved cases, which are designed to be arranged side by side in and project upwardly beyond the body, as shown in Fig. 1, this in order that when the upper portions of the cases are m'arkedor labeled any desired case may be readily distinguished from the others. In order to permit of the cases G being very easily moved endwise into and out of the trunk-body A, the said body is preferably of a slightly greater width at its upper end than at its lower end :i. 6., its front and rear Walls are a slightly greater distance apart at its top than at its bottom. This will be appreciated as an important advantage when it is remembered that the placing of cases in and the removal of the same from the class of trunks mentioned is often attended with great difficulty, due to the tendency of the cases to bind against the front and rear walls of the trunk-body, which as at present made are an even distance apart throughoutt'heir height.

The several cases 0 are similar in construction, and therefore a detailed description of the one shown in Figs. 2 to 5 of the drawings will sufiice to impart an understanding of all. The said case in the preferred embodiment of the invention comprises two trays or sections D D, hinged together at a. Each tray or section in turn preferably comprises a frame I), bound or backed with suitable textile or other material 0, strips d of fiber or other suitable material secured on the longitudinal edges of the tray and overlapping the corners thereof and having for their purpose to strengthen and protect the binding and backing material, one or more, preferably two, longitudinal strips E, interposed between and connected to the end bars of frame 1) and having notches e in their sides adjacent to the backing 0, ad j ustable partitions or shirt-separating devices F, preferably in the form of rings arranged in engagement with notches of the bars E, and a cord G, permanently connected at one end to one end bar of the frame and passed through the several rings in engagement with one notched bar E, then through an aperture f in the opposite end bar of the frame, then through another aperture f in the same end bar of the frame, and then through the rings in engagement with the other notched bar of the frame back to the first-mentioned end bar of the frame, where it is detachably secured by a fastener g of suitable description or in any other approved manner.

The cord G, arranged as just described, is shown applied to the tray D and is preferably employed on both trays of the case. hen desired,however, separate cords G and separate fasteners g therefor, such as shown applied to the tray D, may be employed on the trays without departing from the scope of my invention.

By virtue of the construction described it will be observed that when shirts are placed in the trays between the backs c and cords G or G thereof they will exert pressure on the cords in a direction away from the backs, and

consequently operate to hold the rings F in and against casual displacement from the notches of the bars E, in which said rings are placed; also, that the rings arranged snugly against opposite edges of the shirts will serve to securely hold the shirts against lateral movement incident to the handling of the cases or the trunk containing the cases, and consequently will preclude injury to the shirts. It will also be observed that when desired the distances between the rings F may be increased or diminished by pressing them out of engagement with the notches in the bars E, moving them in the direction of the length of the tray between the bars E and the backing c to the point desired and placing them in engagement with other notches of the bars. This adjustability of the rings will be appreciated as an important advantage when it is borne in mind that as the styles change shirts are either increased or diminished in width; also, that it is necessary for a drummer to carry a line of shirts of difierent styles and widths.

When the shirts are placed between the backing c and the cord G or cords G, the

, rings F may obviously be accommodated to the width of the shirts with great facility.

The rings F are assisted in holding and preventing movement of and injury to the shirts by the cord G or cords G, and it will be observed that by reason of the separation of the shirts in a tray one may be drawn from between two sets of rings and from beneath the cords without disarranging or otherwise affecting the others. It will also be observed in this connection that when it is desired to remove all of the shirts from the tray such removal, as well as the subsequent replacing of the shirts, maybe facilitated by disengagbacking material 0, and simply rest in notches in the bars Ethis in order to permit of the said bars E being sprung away from the bars 12 when it is desired to move the rings F past the latter. When desired, however, the crossbars (lettered b in Fig. 6) may be nailed or otherwise connected to the bars E without departing from the scope of my invention.

H, Figs. 2 and 4, is a stud on one end of the tray D of the case 0; I, a keeper on the corresponding end of the tray D; J, a headed pin projecting from the same end of the tray D as the stud H; and K, a stayof fiber, hoopiron, or other suitable material pivotally connected at one end to the tray D. The said stay has a slot 11 and an offset j, extending from said slot, and also has its inner side beveled at its outer edge and at an intermediate point of its length, as indicated by 7c. By virtue of this construction of stay it will be in Fig. 4, will hold the trays in alinement and the case against casual closing. When it is desired to close the case, the stay is pressed laterally out of engagement with the stud H and the trays D D folded against each other. When the trays are so folded, the stay K will ride over the beveled keeper I, which, engaging one wall of the slot t', will hold the trays together and the case against casual opening. To release the stay from the keeper 1, precedent to opening the case, it is'simply necessary to press said stay laterally outward.

It follows from the foregoing that the improved stay and its appurtenances operate to lock the trays when closed against each other, when opened'to position at approximate right angles to each other, and when opened to positions in alinement with eachother, which is an important desideratum.

In addition to the elements described the trays D D are preferably provided with exterior corner-straps of metal or other suitable material suitably connected thereto. The tray D is also provided in its outer corners with upwardly-projecting angular corner-pieces Z), preferably of fiber. These projecting corner-pieces b, which are preferably connected to the frame 19 and adjacent straps b by rivets I), serve to hold the trays together with their edges flush when said trays are brought together. They also serve, by reason of their being formed of fiber, to give when the tray is struck against an object or falls to the floor and then spring back to their normal position. From this. it follows that the fiber corner-pieces are more strong and durable than corner-pieces of non-resilient material and are calculated to lend great strength and durability to the outer corners of the tray D.

NVhen desirable, interior angular cornerpieces of fiber similar to the corner-pieces b, but not projecting from the trays, maybe provided in the inner corners of tray D and in all of the corners of the tray D and connected by rivets, such as b to the tray-frames and straps If.

When opened, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 or as shown in Fig. 4., and suitably placed on or against a suitable support, my improved case is obviously adapted to display to advantage the shirts'or other articles it contains. It will also be observed that the cases constructed in accordance with my invention are susceptible of being quickly and easily opened and closed, as well as adjusted, which are requisite features in a drummers outfit.

As shown in Fig. 7, adjustable shirt-holders F may be employed onv the bars E in lieu of the shirt-holding rings F. The said holders are adjustably connected together by the bight c on one receiving another and have hooks (Z at one end seated in notches of the bar E. The shirts to be held are interposed between the holders and the bar, and, as will be readily observed, the holders may be adapted to receive shirts of various widths by increasing or diminishing the distances between their hooks (1 I have entered into a detailed description of the construction and relative arrangement of the parts embraced in the present and preferred embodiment of my invention in order to impart a full, clear, and exact understanding of the same. I do not desire, however, to be understood as confining myself to such specific construction and arrangement of parts, as such changes or modifications may be made in practice as fairly fall within the scope of my claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination with a trunk comprising a body, the interior of which is gradually increased in transverse width from its bottom to its top, and a suitable cover; of cases removably arranged side by side in the body and projecting above the top of the same.

' 2. In a tray for holding and displaying shirts and the like, the combination of a frame having asuitable back, one or more bars disposed in the frame, and shirt-holding means arranged to beheld in adjustable engagement with said bar or bars by shirts arranged below said means.

3. In a case for holding and displaying articles; the combination of sections hinged together, a stay connected to one section, means on the same section for coacting with the stay to hold the sections together or closed; and means on the other section for coacting with the stay to hold the sections open or apart.

4. In a case for holding and displaying articles, the combination of sections hinged together, a stay connected to one section, means on the same section for coacting with the stay to hold the sections together or closed, means on the other section for coacting with the stay to hold the sections at an angle to each other, and means on said other section for coacting with the stay to hold the sections in alinement with each other.

5. In a case for holding and displaying articles, the combination of sections hinged together, a stay pivotally connected to one section, and having a slot and an offset leading therefrom, and also having a beveled portion, a keeper on the same section arranged to engage the stay and hold the sections closed, a pin on the other section arranged in'the slot and adapted to seat in the offset of the stay, and a stud also on said other section and adapted to pass the beveled portion of the stay and enter the slot thereof for the purpose described.

6. In a tray for holding and displaying shirts and the like, the combination of a frame having a suitable back, one or more longitudinal bars disposed in the frame and having notches, and shirt-holding means engaging notches in the bar and adapted to be held in engagement with said notches by shirts arranged below said means.

7. In a tray for holding shirts and the like, the combination of a frame having a yielding back, a bar disposed in the frame and having notches in its edge adjacent to the yielding back, and shirt-holding means removably arranged in notches of the bar and adjustable between said bar and the yielding back.

8. In a tray for holding shirts and the like, the combination of a frame having a yielding back, a bar disposed in the frame and having notches in its edge adjacent to the yielding back, rings surrounding the bar and removably seated in notches thereof, and a cord stretched between opposite bars of the frame and extending through the rings.

9. The combination in a tray, of a frame having a suitable back, a bar disposed in the frame, rings surrounding the bar and adjus ably held thereto, and a cord stretched between opposite bars of the frame and extending through the rings.

10. In a case for holding and displaying shirts and other articles, the combination of two trays hinged together and having backs, notched bars, rings surrounding the bars and seated in notches thereof, and cordsextending through the rings, and a stay connected to the trays for holding the same in proper relative position.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHRISTIAN HEUMADER.

IVitnesses:

ELIAS CHUTE, T. D. RYAN. 

